Deviant: No Longer Human

Albeit his reservations, Li Zhiming revealed the status of the Deviants within the Pantheon Network. "Excluding Adam, we should only have one more. Amaya left recently. Her bond with Adam was akin to that of siblings, and I feared she wouldn't be able to contain her emotions if she remained."

Wang Xiao, seemingly indifferent, dismissed the mention of Amaya with a nonchalant nod. His mind was preoccupied with larger concerns; with the entire world as his adversary, the plight of one girl seemed trivial.

His inquiry shifted focus. "You mentioned the coordinates of Fairy Island were discovered by Prometheus. How then did your organization, the New World Order, come to possess them and not others?"

Li Zhiming, taken aback by Wang Xiao's astute deduction, couldn't help but admire him inwardly before responding with a wry smile. "You've guessed correctly, Lord. There is a deep connection between Prometheus, Oracle Network, and Zero. The founding members of these organizations originated from the same continent and collaborated in the past."

Wang Xiao nodded, the web of alliances and histories becoming clearer. Yet, another question arose, tinged with suspicion. "Aren't you Chinese? How did you end up in a foreign organization?"

Li Zhiming was momentarily taken aback by the question, wondering if Wang Xiao had any specific connection to China.

He then shook his head, clarifying, "I was born in country A to Chinese parents. My life and work in China were part of my mission to gather intelligence. Beyond that, I have no direct ties."

Wang Xiao nodded thoughtfully, his directive was clear and concise. "The specifics don't concern me. Just keep me informed of any actions your organization takes against me or Fairy Island. And I'll need a pair of phones along with some duplicate, fake identities."

Li Zhiming nodded in agreement, "That can be arranged without difficulty."

However, a fleeting hesitation in Li Zhiming's eyes didn't escape Wang Xiao's notice. "What's the issue?" he probed, sensing there was more to Li Zhiming's reaction.

Li Zhiming offered a bitter smile. "It's not about that... I just wondered how you knew about my daughter. It's been a closely guarded secret, not even disclosed to her."

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed, and a sly, internal chuckle escaped him. He decided to play into the mystery surrounding his persona. "I have my ways. I can see the same blood flowing in your veins as hers." His response was deliberately mysterious, while inwardly he marveled at his accurate guess.

He had initially thrown out the name Anran merely as a calculated risk, not knowing the exact nature of her relationship with Li Zhiming.

But Li Zhiming's reaction to her mention had confirmed his suspicions.

'A simple guess leading to such a valuable information? This old man's history must be quite extraordinary,' Wang Xiao mused silently, amused. He wasn't one to indulge in idle gossip, but the events intruged him.

Standing at the window, his figure casting a commanding shadow, Wang Xiao appeared every bit the powerful figure Li Zhiming believed him to be.

The room, once a simple place for an interrogation, now seemed to pulse with the undercurrents of secrets, power, and unspoken agreements.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as Wang Xiao issued his final directives, his voice calm yet carrying an undercurrent of undeniable authority. "If there's nothing else, you and your team are free to leave. However, leave your daughter here. I'll take care of her. And don't try any tricks—I'll give your daughter a different poison than yours. So, if you want her to survive, you'll play along."

He continued, outlining a simple yet effective narrative for Li Zhiming to relay to his daughter. "Tell her that I'm an old friend who once saved you. The events of yesterday were just a misunderstanding. She's staying with me now for her safety, as someone is after her life. Keep it straightforward; over-explaining will only raise suspicions.

Since she knows you only as the leader of the Pantheon Network, a command from you should suffice."

Li Zhiming felt a chill run down his spine. 'Ruthless indeed,' he thought.

Wang Xiao's strategy was clear and calculated, leaving him no room to maneuver.

He had wanted to conduct his own investigation upon returning, but with his daughter effectively a hostage, he dared not deviate from Wang Xiao's plan.

Moreover, the cunning nature of the plot was evident. Wang Xiao, with his unnerving intelligence, seemed more like an ancient, scheming entity than a young man.

By positioning himself as a savior and protector in Anran's eyes, he was subtly planting seeds of trust and gratitude, which he can later leverage against Li Zhiming himself!

Hiss!

Too vicious!

A cold sigh escaped Li Zhiming's lips, the gravity of the situation sinking heavily on his mind.

He gulped, his voice carrying a mixture of fear and plea, "I will do as you command, but I request you not to reveal my true identity to her."

Wang Xiao, intrigued by the request, nevertheless nodded. "She will be safe as long as you remain loyal. You may leave now if there's nothing else."

Li Zhiming hesitated, a storm of thoughts and fears swirling within him.

After a few tense seconds, he mustered the courage to voice his deepest concern. "...If I may, what is your motive, Lord? I need to know that I'm not aiding a future catastrophe."

Wang Xiao's lips quirked into a smile, which soon erupted into genuine laughter. ".... Catastrophe, you say?" He turned his back to Li Zhiming, his posture relaxed yet somehow laden with an ancient weariness.

A flicker of melancholy crossed Wang Xiao's face, unseen by Li Zhiming. "Once, I knew the pain of powerlessness... the chains of weakness," he mused, his hands rising as if to hold something invisible. "When I finally grasped power... do you know what vow I made to myself?"

"To never be weak again!"

"To never compromise due to my weakness."

"Let the world come hunting. They will either bow their heads, or I will sever them from their necks, silencing their pursuit forever."

His voice rose with a fierce determination, "I, Wang Xiao, refuse to live as a puppet at the mercy of fate, again and again!"

"I will stand at the apex of the food chain. Even if an immortal god descends, I will chain him and keep his head as a trophy."

Li Zhiming, standing there, felt the sheer intensity of Wang Xiao's vow. It was as if the air in the room vibrated with the force of his conviction.

Gulp...

He swallowed hard, nearly falling to his knees, captivated and awestruck by the magnetic charm of Wang Xiao's daring proclamation.

Then, as swiftly as it had flared, the intensity in Wang Xiao's demeanor faded, replaced by a calm smile.

He turned back to Li Zhiming, his expression serene yet commanding. "For now, keep everything you've heard within these walls. Let it be forgotten, buried in silence. When the time is right, the world will know of my presence. It won't require any announcement."